Frederick William MacMonnies (1863-1937) was an American sculptor who was living and working in Paris at the time of the World's Columbian Exposition. In 1891 he was commissioned to create one of the major decorative elements of the Fair, a large-scale fountain at the center of the Court of Honor. The fountain depicted Columbia arriving upon her elaborate ship drawn by seahorses of "Commerce" and oared by "Arts and Industries." MacMonnies's wife Mary was a friend of the secretary of the Department of Fine Arts Director. It was through this acquaintance that the commission was said to have come; however there were other connections. MacMonnies had previously worked with Stanford White (1853-1906) and had been a studio assistant for Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Both men were involved with the building and planning of the Fair, and Saint-Gaudens frequently advised MacMonnies as he worked on the fountain in Paris.
Mary F. MacMonnies (1858-1946) was also a well-known artist who took part in the Fair. She was commissioned, along with Mary Cassatt, to create a mural for the Women's Building. She also exhibited two paintings in the American Art exhibition. Unfortunately, there are no caricatures of any of the women who worked on the Fair.
- Frederick MacMonnies by an unknown artist.
- Sketch of MacMonnies by Philip H. Martiny (1858-1928)
- World's Columbian Exposition, Columbian Fountain.
- World's Columbian Exposition, Columbian Fountain.